Japan
Images from my most recent travels to Japan. From Tokyo, to Hakone, to Kanazawa and Kyoto, my appreciation of this stunning culture grew immensely.
The Golden Pavilion reflected perfectly in still water in Kyoto.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
Watching this beautiful Maiko perform a traditional dance in her stunning garb remains one of my favorite memories from Japan.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 12x16
Medium Size: 18x24
I watched a young Maiko perform in Kyoto, her long silk sash a work of art down her back—each movement slow, deliberate, and full of ceremony.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 12x16
Medium Size: 18x24
In a tiny restaurant in Hakone, Japan, I watched a server ladle soup, mesmerized as he moved it from one pot to another. The quiet artistry in the way the Japanese prepared food, guided guests, even pressed their hands together as an elevator door closed… is so relaxing to watch.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
A Geiko performs a traditional fan dance in Kyoto.
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Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
In Kyoto, Japan, I couldn’t help but think of Monet’s lilies as I watched lily pads drift across a small river.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
The Okasan — the “mother” who oversees and cares for the Maikos and Geikos of the teahouse. At 85, she was an inspiration. She played her shamisen for us and sang, laughing from pure inner joy.
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Medium Size: 18x18
Large Size: 24x24
A vibrant bridge in Hakone surrounded by fall color.
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Small Size: 12x16
Medium Size: 18x24
Drawn to the softness of her expression, I photographed this Maiko in black and white, leaving only the red flowers to frame her face. Kyoto, Japan.
Fine Art Print
Medium Size: 18x18
Large Size: 24x24
While exploring Tokyo, I became captivated by how youth expressed themselves through footwear. My gaze kept drifting downward, drawn to the street-level personalities revealed in every step. This image, a triad of three individuals pausing at a crosswalk—each standing in their own distinct way—inspired me to capture the moment.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
A Geiko serves sake with measured intention.
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Medium Size: 18x18
Large Size: 24x24
A sculpted Geiko hairstyle in Kyoto.
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Medium Size: 16x20
Large Size: 24x30
A Geiko captured in understated elegance.
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Medium Size: 18x18
Large Size: 24x24
During a private evening in Kyoto, I watched a Geiko and Maiko play this fast, rhythmic game, trading taps and claps over a small red cup until one of them broke the pattern. The room lit up with laughter.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
I loved this moment; A young girl in a blue kimono walking ahead of her parents in Kyoto, her steps full of anticipation. A small but meaningful moment from the tradition of honoring children as they grow up.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 12x18
Medium Size: 16x24
Large Size: 24x36
I photographed this dish in Tokyo: a slice of fish set on steamed vegetables, finished with a small pink-and-white garnish tied like a bow. I couldn’t help but marvel at the artistry.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
Tokyo’s 360-degree cityscape from above.
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Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
With a stunning view of Mt. Fuji in the background, I photographed this human-sized black egg, a symbol of longevity and good fortune at Owakudani (volcanic valley in Mt. Hakone, Japan).
Fine Art Print
Medium Size: 16x20
Large Size: 24x30
Near Shibuya Station in Tokyo, I photographed a little boy taking his first bite of a massive swirl of cotton candy.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
Tucked into the hillside of Hakone Gora Park, this old Japanese house sat amidst moss-laced steps and fall foliage. Every element—aged wood, soft light, wild branches—felt meticulously tended and entirely untamed.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 16x12
Medium Size: 18x24
Koi drift beneath the surface at Senso-ji Temple.
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Medium Size: 18x18
Large Size: 24x24
In a Tokyo whiskey shop, I paused in front of a tall glass cabinet filled with high-end bottles. I converted one of the price tags from yen to dollars: $18,000.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 12x18
Medium Size: 16x24
Large Size: 24x36
At the top of Shibuya Sky, I looked out over Tokyo’s vastness, framed by the meticulously balanced Japanese aesthetic—giant silver spheres suspended from ceiling to floor, just before the holidays.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
Rows of ceremonial sake barrels in Kyoto.
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Medium Size: 18x18
Large Size: 24x24
A sightseeing ship drifts across Lake Ashi at night.
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Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
I was transfixed at a Tokyo market as a vendor gathered chestnuts into a paper bag. The rhythm of her hands and the warmth and scent of the roasted shells felt honest and familiar.
Fine Art Print
Medium Size: 16x20
Large Size: 24x30
I photographed these chestnuts at a market in Kyoto, still warm on the mat. Their earthy sweet scent brought me back to my childhood, to the memory of my father tucking them into foil and roasting them in our fireplace…
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 12x18
Medium Size: 16x24
Large Size: 24x36
In Kanazawa, I photographed freshly washed whites hanging in neat lines beneath the low overhang of a home. Aged wood walls and a slatted doorway framed the scene—a small glimpse of everyday life in this historic city.
Fine Art Print
Medium Size: 18x18
Large Size: 24x24
In Kyoto, I photographed an impeccably dressed young man—layers of fabric, each cross-folded to perfection, complemented by a single red-rope earring.
Fine Art Print
Medium Size: 16x20
Large Size: 24x30
I wandered through a preserved samurai house—warm wood throughout, each room holding relics and traces of Japan’s warrior era.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
In Kyoto, I came across a striking zig-zag bridge made of staggered wooden planks. Designed to slow your step and draw attention to the surroundings, its angles invite a kind of mindful movement.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
At the top of an observatory overlooking Tokyo, I stood behind a glass wall that separated me from the vast sprawl of the city below. As I focused on the tangle of streets and homes, something else caught my eye — a faint reflection in the glass. Slowly, the figures behind me came into view, layered against the sky and skyline beyond.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
In Kyoto, I walked the serene path of vermilion gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha. These traditional wooden structures mark the entrance to sacred ground.
Fine Art Print
Small Size: 18x12
Medium Size: 24x16
Large Size: 36x24
Wandering through Tokyo, I came across a bride standing in an open square. I was lucky to capture this moment — her face perfectly framed by the traditional Japanese wedding hat worn during Shinto ceremonies, the modern equivalent of a veil.
Fine Art Print Small Size: 12x16 Medium Size: 18x24